Let’s talk all about your writing process first… 

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? 

Sierra: I think I had to write a story about my family when I was in 2nd grade. By third grade, I was making up stories and by 7th grade I was writing for the school newspaper. I was always writing and loved putting words to paper. After college, I started writing and submitting short works to contests, but never finished a full book until my debut in 2014.

What comes first, the plot or characters? 

Sierra: It’s usually my characters, then the title, then the storyline and plot. I have a thing for naming my characters – I’m fascinated by names. And once I find a name, that’s when I begin delving into who they are and what they want.

Do you prefer writing in silence or to music?

Sierra:  I write in silence and edit with soft music in the background. When I write, I need all the focus to be on the words. But editing is soooo boring! So the music helps me slog through it.

Do you find it more challenging to write the first book in a series or to write the subsequent novels? 

Sierra: All my books are standalone, but some are in interconnected series. It’s much easier for me to write the first book, because I have a really bad memory and by the 3rd, 4th or 5th, I sometimes can’t even remember the previous book character names! Eeek. 

How many books have you written? Which is your favorite? 

Sierra: I just published book #27! And to think I really only ever set out to write just one. Ha! That’s the thing with writing, it’s like a drug and you just have to keep going. I have several favorites along the way. Several are in my Courting Love series which is my college basketball series. I loved The Rebound and Pivot, because they resembled a lot of my own first love experiences. And I have a 3-book serial called Reckless that I published at the end of 2018 that I was really proud of because of the emotional complexities involved with the 3 characters.

 Do you have a favorite genre to write in?

Sierra: I’m a true fan of new adult. I just love to go back in time and experience it from my own perspective again each time I write characters in their young twenties. There’s just so many nuances to that age group and it’s often when young adults find out who they really are and learn through trial and error – especially in relationships.

If you were to genre-hop, which genre would you most like to try? 

Sierra: I have an outline for a romantic suspense novel but in all honestly, I’m scared to write it. It takes a different type of writing style and imagination to come up with those types of twists. Maybe someday I’ll gather up the courage.

Which of your books was most enjoyable to write? 

Sierra: There are a few that just “came to me” in a snap. The words and story just flowed onto the pages. The Reckless serial is one of those. I woke up one day, had the idea pop in my head over breakfast and coffee and I ran to my laptop to start working on it. I wrote all three books in less than 4 months.

Where do you get your inspiration? 

Sierra: I read a lot of contemporary romance and as the saying goes, there’s nothing new under the sun except a little twist here and there. When I read, I’m always thinking about the “What if’s” and I think about different ways that story could have played out or told.

Would you rather be in a room full of snakes or a room full of spiders?

Sierra: OMG neither! That’s just horrifying. 

Would you rather have an endless summer or an endless winter?

Sierra:  Living in Seattle, it feels like we are in the constant endless winter from Oct-June ever year. So I’ll take the summer, please. 

Would you rather always be an hour early or be constantly twenty minutes late?

Sierra: I was born 5-days late and it’s been my MO ever since. 

Morning Person or Night Owl?

Morning Person

Coke or Pepsi

Pepsi

Paperback or EBook

EBook